HE Qatar's Minister of State for For. Affairs Opens Qatar-Japan Friendship Fund's 1st Activity

Tokyo, January 23 (QNA) - HE Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid Bin Mohamed Al Attiyah has attended the first activity organised by the Qatar-Japan Friendship Fund , namely a US Dlrs. 100 million fund presented by HH the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamd Bin Khalifa Al Thani and under the direct supervision of HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to the friendly people of Japan for the rehabilitation and the reconstruction of the regions stricken by the heavy earthquake which hit East Japan and claimed about 25,000 peoples , killed and missing. HE Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs started his two-day visit to Japan with a working luncheon hosted in his honour by Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Ryuji Yamane who expressed deep thanks over the luncheon to the government and people of Qatar for the assistance they provided for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the stricken areas and the advanced Qatari thought which regulated the first tourist trip for some 1400 children from the primary and preparatory education stages with their respective families from the earthquake -hit regions in a bid to alleviate their suffering and help rehabilitate them psychologically in one of the ice skidding camps in Kyodo island in Northern Japan. During the trip the 1400 children and their respective families , visited the most famous zoos in Japan . HE Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid Bin Mohamed Al Attiyah also conferred with Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba who welcomed the Qatari senior officil and voiced pleasure for meeting him for the second time within a couple of weeks. The Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba also expressed his country's deep thanks and appreciation to the Qatari side for the donation set for the rehabilitation and the reconstruction of the regions stricken by the strong earthquake which hit East Japan. The two sides also discussed means of enhancing ties of joint cooperation in all areas as part of the celebration by the two sides of the 40th anniversary of the establihsment of relations between them. Concluding his official encounters, HE dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, met with the Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the members of the Parliamentary Association for Friendship with the State of Qatar and a number of children of the affected areas and their families. During the meeting, the Japanese Prime Minister expressed Japan's sincere thanks to HH the Emir and the people of the State of Qatar for the grant set for reconstruction, praising qatar's thought to choose the activities and areas covered by such a donation and said, "This project has a great meaning, and by looking at their faces I can see that happiness and gratitude for the memories and we are pleased that this year which witnesses the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations would contribute to further deepen our friendship with the State of Qatar. " He expressed his thanks to the State of Qatar to transport about a hundred additional shipments of liquefied natural gas once requested by Japan, praising meantime the support of the State of Qatar in the field of energy which is indispensable for the industrial nations such as Japan. For his part, President of the Parliamentary Association for Friendship with the State of Qatar Yutaka Bano, praised the government and people of Qatar for their generous support and praised the idea of ?he first event that received the admiration and appreciation of the Japanese side at all levels and was highlighted by the several media organs. On the part of families represented to the affected areas of the provinces of Fukushima, "Miyagi" and "Iwate," which involved a number of them , they felt happiness and pleasure, and a child representing them, conveyed Thanks to the State of Qatar for having achieved a happy winter vacation to them. (QNA)